Lamphouse for printing apparatus



Oct. 21, 1952 H. H. HILLMER ET AL LAMPHOUSE FOR PRINTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 5/ 1949 b 7 fiM Oct. 21, 1952 H. H. HILLMER ET AL 2,614,470

LAMPHOUSE FOR PRINTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5. 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 4 r-Ami Oct. 21, 1952 H. H. HILLMER ET AL LAMPHOUSE FOR PRINTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 5, 1949 ,"zoa ,ao

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g 3nnentors Clflomeu Oct. 21, 1952 H: H. HILLMER ET AL LAMPHOUSE FOR PRINTING APPARATUS 4 sheetsesheet 4 Filed Feb. 5, 1949 Patented Oct. 21 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

LAM OUSE OR PRINTING APPARATUS.

Herman H. Hillmer and Henry P, Orent, Omaha,- Nebr., assignors to PrintingvEngineers Incorpoe rated, maha,,-,Neb r,, a corporation of Nebraska Application February 5, 1949, Serial No. 751,810

2 Claimsr. (CLT95-Q-16) This invention-relates to photographic reproduction and more "particularly a it is an obj ectof the invention to provide an improved lamphousefor-photographic reproduction machines.

Step and-repeat machines-for the purpose of reproducing photographic images from negativeto-positivematerial are well known. A machine of this type is-described'in theiapplicants (lo-pending application I titled Printing Apparatusfiled-August l, 1947, serial No. 765,400, now

Patent Number 2,588,385, issued--March 11, 1952s It is an object of'this invention to provide' a lamphouse or photographic 1 negative holder for sucha machine which is provided with means for focusing thelight from lamps'therein onto the photographic negative in a selected manner.

With this thought. in mind, this inventioncone templates alamphousing 'forphoto printing -ma.-. chines having-a translucent plate in the end of a frame removably attached to one end ofthe'housing witha continuous'cavityextended around the frame .connected to: vacuum producing means and'witha thin slit extended. through",-

the end of the irames and communicating with the cavity for=retaining ai-film or the like :against,

the translucent plate.

Another object of the invention resides vin the provision of :arfocusing mechanism-for a lamphouseias described; which is adjustable from the outside of the lamphouse Yet a further obj ect of. the invention; .is I to; provide adamphouse as. described having in com.-, bination aetiming. mechanism for more accurately timing the. exposures of positive: photographic.

material to. the negative photographic material.

Another object of the invention, is to. provide,

alamphouse .havingamember for diffusing vlight disposed "between the bottom translucent plate oi the lamphouseandthe source ,Of, light therein.

: Another object of, the invention is toyprovide a .1amphouse having-a plurality of spaced apart apertures; surrounding; the lower;- ndt h reof. thrnllgh which azvaeuumtisydrawn; to secure the positive p o aph c 'u'mater alt stothezbottomt of hettlamph user t ll anot r obj ctor thei v ntion s t pr vide a 1amphouse;having access doors in the front thereof for-l the repair; and adjustment; of

the a above mentioned focusing mechanism and oth er parts.

Yeta-Hfurther-object of thednventionis .to;

provide a lamphouse as described having a pinrality of sections, which are remoivably secured to ether 11; conv mence', in. the maintenance thereon in v A particular object ofthe invention-is to provide a lamphouse having a square lower-surface sothat positive photographic material disposed thereon in operation-can be rotated for -reproducing images at a right angletoreproductions made before the rotation for facilitating the conservation of photographic material.

A furtherobject of the invention-is-to providea-lamphouse as described iwhich is furtherpro videdwith-ventilationapertures in the upper end thereof andabove the said lamps Yet afurther object of the invention is toiprovide a lamphouse having Ventilation apertures; which is further provided with a shield fortpre-i venting dust from entering the apertures .and interfering with the passage of; light. there through;

Yet another object of the invention is to-pro-i vide a device for the purpose described which: is

sturdy, and durable in construction,- A reliable r and eflicient in operation, and relatively csimpleand' 1 inexpensive to manufacture, assembleandutiliza:

Other. and still furth,er,.-objec tsand advantages of" the invention will become apparent from, the following detailed description, of a preferred:

embodiment thereof. In the drawings: Figure ,1 is pag frontal elevationof: the lamphouse of; a ,step-and-vrepeat, photographic reproduction, machine constructedv in accordance with; this, invention, ortions of thewvacuum suppl /1 11? being ';bI' O ken away. the gframe, 0f-.=the machine; being indicated in, dotted ;linf:S;..v at the, center; of.

the view, and thebed plate oi the;machineflis part a ly; h0wn.i d ttedulmesgdisposed beneath the bo tom there n Figure z iS a left hand side; elevation oilthel lamphouse of Figure 1..

Fi u e? is a v c l, rosse onal .view aken;

downwardly through the center of the lamp:

house, the path of light rays downwardly froma.

f cusi lens ei ind ated in r dotted unesi,

Figure Avis a v vieweinesectionn taken along the.

line .4 of Figure ;3.

Figure 5 is a lview-in -,sect ion; .takenlalong the:

line .;5;.-5 of Figu e 3.

Figure 6 is aview-in-sectmn takenalong the;

line I vli'li of- Figure ;,3.(

Figure '7 is a view-in-section taken-along the line 1! of. Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a right-hand detailedview ,of; the. bottomof the lamphouse s it is viewedvfromthe,

ht-handside thereof as shownin Figure 1,

Figure 9 is a detailed view, of anindicator and a graduated scale; dial used ;in;c0njunctionwith;

the adjusting knobs of the lens adjusting mechanism of the invention.

Figure 10 is a view-in-section taken along the line II 0 of Figure 3, portions of the lamphouse other than the parts of the lens mechanism and lens adjusting mechanism shown being illustrated in dotted lines; and

Figure 11 is a vertical cross-section taken through the lens mechanism through the lens and focusing mechanism of the invention, together with the controls therefor, other portions of the lamphouse shown being in dotted lines, portions of a shaft inter-connecting a control knob and a lens rotating worm gear being broken away and other portions thereof being shown in section.

The lamphouse of this invention is adapted for use with step-and-repeat machines, the bed plate of one of which is indicated in dotted lines at I0 in Figure l, the control panel portion of the frame of the same machine being indicated in dotted lines at I2 in Figure 1.

The lamphouse of the invention preferably includes three sections generally indicated at I6, l8 and 20. The sections are disposed one above the other in the succession mentioned. The lowermost section I6 is provided with a frame rectangular-shaped in plan and rectangularshaped in cross section and having a continuous cavity extended longitudinally through side and end sections thereof, as indicated by the numeral 24, and which is best shown in Figure 7. The bottom piece 24 is preferably square in outline and is provided with a square row of spaced apart apertures 26 extending upwardly thereinto, the

apertures 26 opening upon the lower surface of the bottom member 24 for drawing a vacuum on a piece of negative photographic material, not shown, during operation.

The apertures 26 extend upwardly through the bottom piece 24. The bottom piece 24 is of annular shape and is provided with a hollow interrior. A slot or cavity 28 is provided extending into the piece 24 from the upper side thereof and surrounding the upper side thereof. The slot 28 is disposed in communication with the apertures 26.

The bottom piece 24 is provided with a piece of translucent material, preferably glass, 30 secured thereto and disposed across the central opening thereof providing a film backing plate. The glass plate 30 is provided with a lower surface disposed flush with the lower surface 24.

The bottom piece 24 is formed with a flange 40 on the upper section and is further provided with a passageway 40 on either side thereof and extending outwardly therethrough. The passageways 40 are disposed in communication with vacuum lines 42 through suitable couplings 44. The vacuum lines 42 lead to a vacuum tank, not shown.

The member 24 is held in place by a plurality of bolts, not shown, and which latter extend upwardly through the member 24, through a gasket 46 sealing the top of the slot 23, through an annular closure member 48, and into suitable bolt receiving portions 60 which are respectively disposed on the four corners of the lower lamphouse housing portion I6.

If desired, the door holding member 24 may be composed of two sections, a lower and an upper section, as shown in Figure 3 andthe two sections may be divided by a resilient gasket 46 which latter is of utility in insuring a good fit between the negative and positive photographic material disposed in operation against the lower surface of the glass plate 30 in the lower end of the bottom piece of the lamphouse and upon the bedplate I0.

The lower portion IE of the lamphouse is further provided with two knobs 66 disposed respectively on the right and left-hand sides thereof for facilitating upward pivoting movements of the lamphouse during operation.

The lamphouse housing portions I6, I8 and 20 are all provided with hollow interiors, the lower section 62 having raising knobs 65, and the upper portion of the interior of the lower lamphouse section I6 being provided with a focusing mechanism generally indicated at I0. The focusing mechanism "IE1 is secured by means of a right angle bracket I2 and a normally horizontally disposed member 14 providing a partition, to the inner upper surface of the lower lamphouse housing I6.

The focusing mechanism III is best shown in detail in Figure ll and comprises an annular cylindrical housing I8 which latter extends upwardly through the horizontally disposed member 74. The annular cylindrical housing member I0 is rigidly secured to a ring I8 which latter is provided with a threaded inner surface for engaging threads disposed on the outer side of the annular housing member I6. The ring I8 is itself secured in any suitable manner to the horizontal supporting member I4.

The lower side of the cylindrical member I6 is closed by means of a flange portion 18 with the exception of a circular opening at the center thereof. An annular connecting member 84 is secured by means of rivets 86 to the under side of the inwardly disposed flange portion I8 of the member IS. The connecting member 84 is of right angle shape in cross section through one of the sides thereof, and the annular interior wall thereof is threaded for receiving the normally vertically disposed annular side jacket 88 of a lens mechanism now to be described.

The jacket 88 is provided adjacent its upper end with a threaded surface for engaging the threads of the connecting member 84 and for upholding the jacket 88.

Upwardly of the said thread portions of the member 88 the latter is provided with an upwardly extending flange portion 90 which is provided with a threaded interior into which two rings 96 and 98 are placed. The rings 96 and 98 are provided with threaded exteriors for engaging the threads of the flange 90 and are further provided with recesses in the interior surfaces thereof fcr supporting two lenses.

The upper lens I00, disposed in the ring 96, is preferably provided with a convex upper surface and a plat, normally horizontal, lower surface. The lens I00 is spaced apart from a lens I02 which latter is disposed therebeneath and is secured in a suitable recess in the lower ring 98. The lens I02 is provided with a concave upper surface and a concave lower surface.

Downwardly disposed from the lens I02, a light baffle I04 is provided. Disposed downwardly from the lens I02 and on the other side of the baffle I04 from the lens I02, two further lenses are provided. The said two further lenses comprise a lower set of lenses Ill) and H2 whereas the lenses I00 and I02 will be referred to as the upper set of lenses.

The uppermost lens I I2 of the lower set is provided with a concave upper surface and a concave lower surface. The lower lens III! is provided with a-aconvex upperrsurface'iand;aconvex: lower surface.

The lenses. I I0 and ,I I2v are disposed with their opposing faces in engagement with eachother andaareheld in this position by means of asuitable annular fitting I 20.

An annulazwgearv I30, having teeth disposed around its outer circumference, is securedpby meansof pins I32 to the-jacket 88. The gear I30 is disposed with its teeth. in engagement with.v a wormjgear I36-which latter is secured rigidly and bymeansof a screw I38 to a-normally horizontally disposedshaft I40.

.The shaft I40 is itself rotatably'mounted at one end in -a suitableright-angle bracket I42 having1a cylindricalbearing portion atits lower end. .Theibracket I42 issecured by. means of suitable bolts I44 to the member 14 and twozcollars I46 are provided for maintaining thetshaft l40 in place' with respect to the bracket I42.

On theotherside of the worm gear I46 the shaft 1401s secured-by meansofa universal joint I4B-to-.a shaft I50. Shaft.l50isprovidedwitha longitudinally disposed bore I54 extending axially thereinfrom an outer end thereof. The said outer-end is furtherprovided'with a slot I56 extendingthereinadistance less than'the bore I54.

A togglerod I60is provided extending slidably into thebore I54 and acrosspin I62.is-secured transversely of the togglerod I60,'the cross pin I62-being disposed in the slot I56 so that at times when the toggle rod I60 is rotated, the pin I62 will engage thesides of theslot I56for causing the shaft I50 to rotate.

The outer end of the toggle rod I60 is secured by means-of set screws I66 and by means of a universal 'joint I68 to a'control knob I which is disposed on the outside of the side wall of the housing section I6 from the universal joint I68.

The. control knob I10isprovided with an indicator arm I12, and a graduateddial or'scale I14 is providedand secured to the outer surface of the housing section I6 for cooperation with the indicator arm I12 to indicate the position of the lens mechanism 10 to an operator and from the outside of the lamphouse.

inwardly of the housing-section I6 a bearing member I80 is provided and is 'secured'to the innersideof the section I6 forrotatably upholding the outer ends of astub-shaft I84 which interconnects the universal joint'ISilwiththe controliknobflo.

'The lower housing section I6 is further provided with a door 200-for providing access to the focusing mechanism 10 forrepair and adjustment thereof. The door 2001s mounted on a hinge 202 :at one side thereof and is provided with a lock 204 on its opposite side. The door 200 is provided with a knob 206 for facilitating the Opening thereof, and with an opening 208 therethrough for seeing'a red glass 2I'0 on the inside of the door.

The sections I6, I8 and 20 are removably secured together by means of overlapping straps 220 each of which is riveted to one of the sections and bolted to an adjacent one of the sections.

The center section I8 is also provided with a door 230 for providing access thereto to service the interior thereof. The door 230 is similarly provided with a knob 232 and a lock 233. The door 230 has a red glass 234 secured on the inside thereof with a mounting 2I2 and the glass 234 is visible through an opening 236 in the door.

The uppermost section 20 is provided with a plurality of lamps 240 which latter are mounted in sockets:,-secured byia frame 242'; and boitsr244 to vthe.upper side of the.top;246.,of.the1.upper lamp housing :section 20. The lamps240.are;provided with, lead wires which latter .aresecuredvtoa-a power of supply cable 248.

The, power supply wire 2481is .provided with tw innerwires 250 whicharezadapted to bexattached toza conventional wiringcircuit oflthe .volt type.

The top 246 of the'upper lamp-house section 20 :is provided with :a plurality of ventilation openings 260 therethrough. :A'dust shield 262 ;is disposed .abovethe ventilation openings 260 .and spaced apart therefrom by means of. a spacer 264 anda bolt .266. The shield 2,62 is-adapted toipermitheat -to exude upwardly and outwardly of the lamphousefrom the lamps 2.40 and through-the openings 260, at the same time shielding/the openings 260 forpreventing dust from entering therein from above.

The upper fhousing section 1 2 I'll is :further provided witharectangularshaped' skirt 210 secured to the inner side thereof and overlapping the lower end thereof. The skirt 210 is disposed inside the upper end of the middle section .:in between an operation and issecured to a ledge providing member 212 which latter preferably extends around the innerside of the skirt 210.

The ledge 212 is provided with an inwardly extending horizontalupper surface for receiving thereon a supporting rim 214 of a diffusing member 216. The supporting .rim 214 is preferably of right angle shapein cross section-and is adapted to support the diffusing member 216 which latter can be similar in all respects, to the diffusing member or plate 30.

The wires 250 of thecable 248are connected to twoof the terminals of a relay 282 as best. shown in Figure 1. Two other terminals of the relay 282 are connected to the lead in wires'280 of the conventional supply circuit.

The other two terminals 286 of the relay 282 are connected by means of suitable wires 288 with a timing mechanism 290. Thetiming mechanism 290 is provided with control switches 292 and 294. One of the switches is for turning the timer off and on, .the other switch is for manual control of the exposure made by the lamps 240.

The timer 290 is provided with a dial296 which has agraduated scale imprinted thereon. The timer is also provided with astarterbutton 298.

.In operation the lamphouse as described is placed with its lower surface above the bedplate I 0 of the step-and-repeat machine,.not shown. Theadjustment of the focusing mechanism'10. is made by means of the control knob I10 in .conjunction with the adjacentdial or scale I14.

The operator may then use the switch 294 for controlling the exposure time. Optionally he may throw the switch 292 for using the automatic timing mechanism 290. In use of the latter the starting button 298 is pushed at a time when the dial 296 thereof is set for the proper length of exposure. The lamps 240 will then turn on and turn off automatically exactly at the end of the period of time set with the timing mechanism controls.

It will be seen than this invention has provided a lamphouse for step-and-repeat photographic reproduction machines which is provided with means for automaticallytiming the period of exposure; which is provided with ventilation openings as well as a dust shield; having a square negative-holding face; which is constructed in several sections for convenient assembly and disassembly for servicing; which is provided with doors for convenient servicing; having more efficient use of vacuum for holding the negative photographic material to the bottom thereof than heretofore; and having convenient knobs thereon for grasping the lamphouse for use in disposing the lamphouse in operating position and at times in other positions for placing negative photographic material thereon.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a lamphouse for photographic reproduction machines constructed in accordance with our invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that our invention is susceptible of some change and modification including variations in the shape and size of the parts, without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason, we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out our invention in practice, except as claimed.

We claim:

1. In a photographic printing machine, the combination which comprises an elongated hollow housing rectangular-shape in cross section and comprising three separable sections including an upper section, a center section, and a lower section, lamps mounted in the said upper section, a light diffusing plate mounted in the center section, a focusing lens mounting positioned in the upper part of the lower section, and a frame rectangular-shaped in plan having side and end sections mounted on the lower end of the lower section of the housing, the sections of the said frame being rectangular-shaped in cross section and having a continuous cavity extended longitudinally therethrough with continuous rows of spaced apertures extended from the faces of the sections to the cavity whereby suction in the cavity draws air inwardly in lines perpendicular to the face of the frame, the sections of said frame also having a continuous recess extended along the inner edges, and positioned in the face of the frame so that film positioned against a plate in the recess is retained in position by suction applied to the four edges thereof.

2. In a photographic printing machine, the combination which comprises an elongated hollow housing rectangular-shape in cross section and comprising three separable sections including an upper section, a center section, and a lower section, lamps mounted in the said upper section, a light diffusing plate mounted in the center section, a horizontally disposed partition having an opening therein extended across the upper end of the lower section, an internally threaded ring carried by said partition, a cylindrical member having a flange on the lower end threaded in said ring, a lens mounting carried by the flange of the said cylindrical member, a lens positioned in said lens mounting, a worm gear positioned on the outer surface of said lens mounting, a shaft having spaced flexible couplings therein journaled in the lower section of the housing and having an end extended through a wall of the housing, a worm on the said shaft and positioned to mesh with the worm gear on the lens mounting, a knob on the end of the shaft extended through the Wall of the housing and positioned to coact with a dial on the outer surface of the housing for adjusting the position of the lens in focusing the machine, a frame rectangular-shape in plan having side and end sections mounted on the lower end of the lower section of the housing, the sections of the said frame being rectangular-shape in cross section and having a continuous cavity extended longitudinally therethrough providing a vacuum chamber with continuous rows of spaced apertures extended from the faces of the sections to the cavity whereby with the apertures positioned perpendicular to the faces of the sections of the frame suction from the vacuum chamber draws air inwardly in lines perpendicular to the face of the frame, the sections of said frame also having a continuous recess extended along the inner edges and positioned in the face of the frame, and a translucent plate positioned in the said recess with the outer surface of the plate flush with the face of the frame so that film positioned against the plate and face of the frame is retained in position by suction applied to the four edges thereof.

HER-MAN H. I-lILLlVIER. HENRY P. ORENT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 994,475 McCurdy June 6, 1911 1,251,076 Mauch Dec. 25, 1917 1,710,960 Anderson Apr. 30, 1929 1,750,294 Bassist Mar. 11, 1930 1,778,027 Herriott Oct. 14, 1930 1,838,312 Kanolt Dec. 29, 1931 1,930,139 Altman et a1 Oct. 10, 1933 2,036,682 Cantor Apr. 7, 1936 2,041,373 Saunders 1- May 19, 1936 2,200,365 Nickelsburg May 14, 1940 2,270,578 Campbell Jan. 20, 1942 2,317,348 Wekeman Apr. 27, 1943 2,445,566 De Lano July 20, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 782,00 France Mar. 11, 1935 485,771 Great Britain May 25, 1938 

